Snubbed bolster truck



June 19, 1951 w. l.. scHLEGEL, JR 2,557,768

SNUBBED BoLsTER TRUCK Filed Jan. 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 20 I 6020 INVENroR.

`\ 74M f ,d

@MW Z 35 32 26 M,

June 19, 1951 w. L. scHLEGEL, JR

SNUBBED BoLsTER TRucx Filed Jan. 5; 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .une 19, 1951.

SNUBBED BOLSTER TRUCK Walter L. Schlegel, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,220

Claims. l (Cl. 10S-197) My invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to freight car trucks comprising spaced side frames and a bolster having associated therewith means for improving the Vriding quality lof a car body supported' thereby. 1

The general object of my invention is to design a railway freight car truck of the type described, incorporating a snubbing device for frictionally controlling the oscillations of the bolster-supportingsprings.

Another object of my invention is to design a railway freight car truck wherein the snubbing device may be utilized for the purpose described and alsoV to interlock and Y maintain the side frame and bolster in assembled relationship.,

The present invention lis an improvement on the generic design illustrated and described in a copending application, Serial No. 491,903, now Patent No. 2,392,599, filed in the United States Patent Office June 23, 1943, by David M. Light, anda specific object of the present invention is to design a truck of this type wherein the spaced A2 l My invention also comprehends a novel interlocking and friction shoe and actuating member of yokelike form having at each of the opposite side frames and bolster are tied together by an interlocking member at each end of the bolster, the interlockingmembers having end portions extending into the side frame columns for this purpose and, in addition, for actuation of sets of friction shoes therewithin into frictional engagement with a plurality of friction surfaces afforded on the associated columns.

A more specific object ofmy invention is to devise such a truck wherein a plurality of friction shoes are provided at each side of the bolster in wedge engagement therewith and in frictional engagement with friction surfaces within the adjacent side frame column, said shoes being actuated byian interlocking member extending transversely` of the bolster and urged into wedge engagement with the shoes by resilient means housed within the bolster and associated with said member.

In one embodiment of my invention the interlocking and friction shoe actuating member is disposed beneath the bolster and connected by means of a bolt and nut assembly extending through the bottom wall of the bolster to a spring adjustably compressed against said bottom wall and in another embodiment of my invention the member anda plurality of springs are housed within the bolster with the springs under compression and bearing against the member and the bottom wall of the bolster.

My invention comprehends friction shoes of novel form, each having wedge faces on angularly -arranged sidesthereof and friction faces on other` angularly arranged sides thereof whereby each wedge face is disposed at an angle to the other and to each of the friction faces.

ends thereof wedge surfaces for cooperation with the associated friction shoes under normal operating conditions. i

In the drawings: i

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a railway cai truck embodying my invention, the sectional view being taken approximately in the longitudinal vertical plane, indicated by the line I l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken in the transverse vertical plane of the truck as n indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate in detail the bolster and side frame interlocking and frictionshoe actuating member shown in Figures 1, Zand 3, Figure e being a top plan view of the member, Figure 5 being a side elevation thereof, and Figure 6 being an end view thereof;

Figure 'l is a fragmentary side elevation ofa modification of my invention, only one end of the truck structure being shown inasmuch as the arrangement is similar at opposite ends thereof;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View of the truck structure shown in Figure 7, the section being taken in a horizontal plane through the column and above the bolster as indicated by the line 8 8 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken in the transverse vertical plane as indicated by line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure l() is a fragmentary side elevation of the bolster shown in Figures 7 and 8; and

Figures 11 and l2 illustrate in detail the bolster and side frame interlocking and friction shoe actuating member shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, Figure 11 being a side elevation thereof and Figure 12 being an end elevation thereof.

Describing my invention in detail and referring first to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, the side frame comprises box-section compression and tension members 2 and 4 merging at corresponding ends thereof with columns 6,6 to define a bolster opening 8 having a widened lower portion IS for a purpose hereinafter described. Each column 8 may be of U section and comprises a transverse web l2 extending vertically upward from the top chord it of the tension member to the top of the bolster opening and merging with the bottom chord I6 of the compression member 4 as at I8 (Figure 1), `and the said column may comprise also an inboard wall I8 and an outboard Wall 2D each merging adjacent its lower end as at 22 with the top chord |4 of the tension member and each wall being relieved as shown in Figure l to dene the widened lower portion l of the bolster opening 8. The tension member 4 beneath the bolster opening has the top chord |4 thereof affording a seat as at 24 for a spring plate 26 engaging and confining the bottom ends of the bolster-supporting springs diagrammatically indicated at 28, 28.` The springs have their upper ends seated as at'39 against the bottom wall 32 'of the bolster, generally designated 34, said bolster beingfof box section with the spaced side walls 36, 36, the tcp wall 38, and the before-mentioned bottom wall 32. The bottom wall 32 and the side wall 36 at each end of said wall 32 is cut away to provide at each side of the bolster a pocket 48 for the reception of assocated friction shoes and a friction shoe actuator as hereinafter described, said pocket being dened by the inbcard and outboard webs 42 and 44 and by the diagonal lwall 46 merging with said webs and with the top and bottom walls 38 and 32, each diagonal wall having the exterior surface thereof providing a wedgeface 48 for complementary engagement with a pair of friction shoes 58, 56 hereinafter described.

Each shoe 58 is rectangular in horizontal cross section, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and comprises on the rear surface thereof a wedge face 52 (Figure 1) for complementary engagement as at 54 with the wedge face 48 on the adjacent bolster wall 46, and on the front surface thereof said shoe is provided with a vertical friction face 58 `for frictional engagement with the central portion 60 of the adjacent U-shaped columnmounted wear plate generally designated 62 which may be welded as at 64, 64 to the associated column walls. Each shoe also comprises on opposite sides thereof a friction face 66 for frictional engagement with one of the legs 88, 68 of the associated wear plate 62 and a wedge face 10 in wedge engagement as at 12 with the actuating member, generall;r designated 14.

The actuating member 14 is illustratedv in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and is of yokelike form having a substantially U-shaped conguration in side elevation, said member underlying the bolster between the spaced pairs of springs 28, 28 at oppo site sides of the side frame and having upstanding end portions 16, 16, each being received within the adjacent column 6 between the inboard and outboard walls |8 and 20 thereof and also within an adjacent pocket 48 of the bolster for actuation of the friction shoes 50, 59 therein. For this purpose each end portion 16, 16 of the member 14 is formed with converging wedge surfaces 18, 18 on opposite sides thereof for complementary engagement as at 12, 12 with the wedge faces 18, 10 of respective shoes 50, 58, whereby, upon upward movement of the actuating member 14, the shoes at end thereof will be simultaneously urged in opposite directions by the member 14 for frictionally engaging their friction surfaces 66, 66 with the legs 68, 68 of the wear plate 62 on the adjacent column and also the shoes, through the engagement of their wedge faces 52, 52 with the wedge face 48 on the adjacent bolster wall 46, will be urged laterally of the bolster for engagement with the friction faces 58, 58 on the central portion 68 of the wear plate 62 on the adjacent column. It may be noted from a consideration of Figure 2 that the friction face 66 of each shoe within the column 6 and in engagement with the wear plate 68 projects outwardly a sufcient .distance from .the side of the shoe .to provide ample clearance between the adjacent wall 42 or 44 of the bolster whereby engagement of the side of the shoe with the adjacent bolster wall is prevented.

The actuating memberor yokev 14 is urged into engagement with the shoes 50, 50 as described above by a coil spring received Within an opening 82 in the top wall 38 of the bolster and seated as at 86 against the bottom wall 32 of the bolster, which may be provided with a spring-positioning boss 88, said spring having the top thereof bearing against an annular spring plate 90 which is compressed against said spring by means of a lbolt and nut assembly generally designated 92 connected to the actuating member 14. The bolt and nut assembly extends through the plate 90 and an opening 94 in the bottom wall of the bolster and also through an opening 96 in the actuating member 14, the lower end of said bolt and nut assembly being engaged with Said member 14 whereby, as the bolt and nut assembly'is tightened, the reaction of the compressed spring 80 is transmitted to the actuating member 14 which is urged upwardly, thereby urging the friction shoes into engagement with the wear plates 62, 62 and the bolster, as previously described; It may be noted that the compression of the spring 80 may be adjusted by means of the bolt and nut assembly.

It will be apparent that the member 14 is instrumental in serving to actuate the friction shoes and also, as it is connected to the bolster and extends withn the side frame columns, it is effective to tie the side frame and bolster together to maintain the same in assembled relation during the operation of the truck.

In assembling my novel truck, the friction shoes 50, 56 may be positioned in each column within the associated wear plate and the actuating member 14 tilted at an angle to the horizontal plane thereof for entrance within the widened lower portion of the bolster opening for disposition of the end portions 16, 16 between the inboard and outboard walls of the respective columns, whereupon the members may be raised to engage the shoes. The bolster is then positioned within the bolster openings between the pairs of shoes associated with the respective columns. Thereafter, the spring 80 and bolt and nut assembly 92 may be assembled with the bolster and actuating member 14. The bolster assembly thus far described may then be raised to the top of the bolster opening and it may be noted that an opening 98 is formed in the bottom chord I6 of the compression member 2 to permit entrance of the upper end of the bolt and nut assembly into said compression member inv order that the springs 28, 28 may be seated on the spring plate 26, kthe bolster then being lowered and seated on said springs. The nut of the bolt and nut assembly may thenl be tightened to compress the spring 80 .to urge the member 14 upwardly into tight engagement with the shoes and latter into tight engagement with the bolster walls 46, 46 and the .wear plates 62, 62 in the columns 6, 6. The bolster may be removed from the bolster opening by a reversal of the process of assembly.

. Figures v7 to 12 illustrate a modification of my invention wherein the side frame, generally designated |02, is substantially identical with that disclosed in Figure l and comprises the compression and tension members |84 and |86 merging adjacent each end thereof With a U-shaped column |08 to define a bolster opening ||0 having a widened lower portionlll'.. The bolster-fsupporting springs I I 4, I 4 are seated on the spring plate |I6 on the tension member |04 and afford support as at H6 for the bolster, generally designated |26, said bolster comprising top and bottom walls |22 and |24 and having at each side thereof spaced parallel diagonal walls |26, |26 and inboard and outboard webs |21 and |28 merging with said walls |22 and |24 to define a pocket |29. The diagonal walls |26, |26 have wedge surfaces |85, |36 in complementary wedge engagement as at I 32 with a pair of the associated friction shoes |34 and |36, identical with those described in the previous modification, said shoes extending within the adjacent column |68, and each shoe having the angularly arranged friction surfaces thereof in engagement as at |28 and |49 with the column-mounted U-shaped wear plate |42.

In the present modification, the actuating member |44 is housed within the bolster extending transversely thereof and having end portions |46, |46 each received within an opening |48 between the diagonal walls |26, I 26 for actuation of the friction shoes |34 and |36 in each pocket |29. The actuating member |44, illustrated in Figures l1 and 12, is of yokelike formation and comprises a central horizontal portion |56 and depending end portions I 46, |46, each end portion having a coil spring diagrammatically indicated at |52 adjacent thereto and engaging the central portion I 59 as at I 54 and being seated as at |56 on the bottom wall |24 of the bolster, each end portion having upwardly converging diagonal wedge surfaces |56, |53 urged into complementary engagement as at |66, |66 with the surfaces |62-, |62 of the associated friction shoes |34 and |36, respectively, by means of the coil springs |52 compressed between the actuating member I 44 and the bottom wall |24 of the bolster.

It will be apparent that the reaction of the springs |52 will be transmitted to the actuating member |44 whereby the wedge portions |46, |46 thereof will be urged into wedge engagement with the shoes and the latter will be urged along the associated diagonal walls of the bolster and laterally of the bolster, as well as in opposite directions transversely of the side frame, into frictional engagement with the wear plates on the columns.

In the assembly of the truck, the actuating member |44 may be inserted within each opening |48 between the diagonal walls |26, |26 at each side of the bolster and each spring |52 within the open end of the bolster and positioned between the member and the bottom wall of the bolster. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the bolster at each side of the longitudinal center line thereof is formed with the top wall |22 thereof providing an opening |64 for the passage of a bolt |66, said bolt extending through the adjacent spring |52 and through aligned openings |68 and |10 in the actuating member |44 and the bolster bottom wall |24, respectively, and receiving a nut |12 which is tightened to compress the spring |52. The friction shoes may then be positioned within the columns and the bolster assembly inserted in the widened lower portion of the bolster opening and elevated to engage the end portions I 46, |46 of the actuating member with the shoes. The springs I I4, I4 and spring plate I I6 may then be positioned on the tension member and the bolster lowered to engage said springs. At this time the bolt and nut assembly associated with each spring I 52 may be removed or loosened to permit the compressed springs |52 within the bolster to urge the actuating member into engagement with the shoes, whereby the latter may be urged into wedge engagement with the bolster and into frictional engagement with the side frame columns. The truck may be disassembled by raising the bolster to the top of the bolster opening to remove the springs II4, H4, whereupon the bolster and the friction elements associated therewith may be lowered and removed from the widened lower portion of the bolster opening and removed from' the side frame as a unit.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster resiliently supported by said frame between said columns, a friction surface in each column extending transversely thereof and facing one side of the bolster, mutually facing friction faces in each column extending from its surface toward the bolster, two pairs of friction shoes, one pair being disposed at each side of the bolster in wedge engagement therewith along areas converging with respect to the adjacent column surface, a friction shoe actuator extending between the shoes of each pair, said actuator having converging wedge faces extending between and engaging the shoes of each pair for urging them apart against the related column faces and for simultaneously urging the shoes of each pair along the related areas into engagement with the related column surface, and a spring carried by the bolster and operatively associated with said actuator for urging said faces thereof into engagement with the shoes under substantially constant pressure.

2. A railway car truck, according to claim 1, wherein the spring bears against a bolster wall having an opening therethrough, and connecting means extending through said opening for connecting the spring to the actuator.

3. A railway car truck, according to claim 1, wherein the actuator and shoes are the sole means for connecting the bolster to the columns.

4. A railway car truck, according to claim 1, wherein the spring is compressed between a wall of the bolster and a surface of the actuator housed within the bolster.

5. A railway car truck, according to claim 4, wherein the actuator wedge faces associated with each pair of shoes extend between the bolster areas engaged therewith.

WALTER L. SCHLEGEL, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS' Number Name Date 2,347,463 Couch Apr. 25, 1944 2,362,989 Cottrell Nov. 21, 1944 2,365,198 Lehrman Dec. 19, 1944 2,375,206 Baselt et al. May 8, 1945 2,392,597 Lehrman Jan. 8, 1946 2,392,599 Light Jan. 8, 1946 2,422,201 Lehrman June 17, 1947 

